Hello my friends. Before I begin, I do want to point out that I searched for "gas" since I am sure this topic has been addressed before. I didn't find this topic on the first few pages and I wasn't about to shuffle through all 71 pages looking to revive this topic. So I hope no one minds that I start a new one.

Well anyway, I finally got around to getting a costco membership. After I posed for my picture and was handed my card, I didn't even enter the store to look around. I immediately left the store and headed straight for the pumps!! Man was I excited, I was going to stack my 5% penfed rewards with the costco gas selling for a 10 cent discount and then come post the experience on here and get lots of green. Well you guys know what I am about to say. Imagine my disappointment when its rejecting my cards and asking for PIN codes!! I drove off with an empty tank crying, it was so sad, a grownass man crying like that. You would have cried if you saw me.Later I did some research and discovered what, again, I bet most of you already know. That you can use only AMEX, debit cards, or costco cash cards at the pump. No problem, I have a no-annual-fee AMEX card (actually 2, another for my wife "employee" that gives 3 points per dollar rewards for gas. But then in the fine print it says it must be a standalone gas station and that costco is excluded. What the hell does a guy gotta do in society to get ahead these days!!So I am now thinking that there is no possible way to get credit card rewards with costco gas. I am thinking that penfed's 5% rewards, which is always going to be better than 15 cents per gallon as long as gas is more than $3/gal, will always be better than costco's 10 cent discount. A real bummer since one of the big reasons I got the costco card was for the gas....

But anyway, as I see things, the best way to purchase gas is to use grocery rewards, if they are available where you live, and stack that with 5% gas rewards. I can't think of another way - costco doesn't even fit into the equation.

I purchase Arco gas cards at the grocery store (Albertsons), using my 2% Cash Back FIA AMEX. When I purchase $500 in groceries, including gift cards, I receive a $5 off coupon that I can use in store. Arco is always the cheapest, closest, and most convenient gas station to my house.

anon94305

Member

posted: Nov. 27, 2012 @ 11:43p

Use your Penfed card and buy costco cash card on costco.com then use cash card to pay for gas.

krutis

Thrifty Member

posted: Nov. 27, 2012 @ 11:45p

No need to worry my friend, this Amex card will give you 4% back at Costco gas stations.

kintro

Serene Member

posted: Nov. 28, 2012 @ 12:06a

Buy Arco GC's at safeway with Blue Preferred or Sallie Mae. Gets the cash price.When safeway fuel rewards reach $1.00 off per gallon (or $2 in some geographical areas) then stock up at the safeway pumps (car & gas cans).

Other than the limited time promos like AMX Like Link Love the strategy above generally beats Costco by a wide margin.

I'm born and raised in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, so I know what you mean when you say Arco and safeway. But now I'm a Minnesota man so most of these solutions won't work for me.

Anon94305, you are suggesting to use the Penfed card to buy the costco cash card? Do you get 3% grocery store rewards when you purchase the cashcard online? I am a new costco member, so I am not sure if costco is considered a grocery store since you can buy so much stuff there, and am even more doubtful if you are buying the card online from the costco website. Please let me know your experiences.

Krutis: Wow, no annual fee. This might be exactly what I was looking for. Thank you very much for sharing this with me!!

scottybweyy

Ancient Member

posted: Nov. 28, 2012 @ 12:53a

I use Penfed card at the pump at Sam's Club. I think they only give $0.05/gallon off though.

kintro said: There is also a strategy involving 7-eleven & plink.com that gets 15% if done correctly. I posted about that site a while back but the thread did not receive any real action.

I reread your thread. I guess I didn't pay it much mind from the title on fast food! What CC do you use? Do you recommend earning through Plink or through MemoLink? HAs your experience been positive with them thus far?

terms : "Each Eligible Purchase on your TrueEarnings® Card from Costco and American Express shall earn a Reward of 1, 2, or 3% of the purchase amount as follows: 3% on the first $4,000 in eligible purchases each annual reward period (1% thereafter) of gasoline at Costco and domestic stand-alone gas stations (excluding superstores, supermarkets, convenience stores, and warehouse clubs other than Costco);"

OliverQuackenbush said: Well anyway, I finally got around to getting a costco membership. After I posed for my picture and was handed my card, I didn't even enter the store to look around. I immediately left the store and headed straight for the pumps!! Man was I excited, I was going to stack my 5% penfed rewards with the costco gas selling for a 10 cent discount and then come post the experience on here and get lots of green. Well you guys know what I am about to say. Imagine my disappointment when its rejecting my cards and asking for PIN codes!! I drove off with an empty tank crying, it was so sad, a grownass man crying like that. You would have cried if you saw me.

you need to get out more

Solandri

Ancient Member

posted: Nov. 28, 2012 @ 4:09a

Cratos said: E85 biofuel. where I live it's 3.15 vs almost 3.80-4 for regular gas (almost $20 difference on tankful)just make sure your car is compatible (few are),E85 ethanol has 27% less energy per gallon than gasoline. So while you're paying $3.15 per gallon, on a per mile traveled basis you're paying the equivalent of $4.31 gas.

Or put another way, if you fill a 15 gallon tank with E85 at $3.15/gallon, you'd pay $47.25. But that tank will only take you as far as 10.95 gallons of gasoline. 10.95 gallons of gasoline would've cost you $43.76 at $4/gallon.

depalma13

Senior Member - 1K

posted: Nov. 28, 2012 @ 4:34a

I buy BP gift cards at Kohls with Discover and Chase Freedom and get the 5% discount at certain times of the year. Sometimes there is an extra bonus like on Black Friday.

During the year Publix will sell gift cards at $10 off $50, with a $50 purchase (used to be $25).

My local BP(next to a Kangaroo so prices are lowest in my area) gives the cash price for gift card purchases, so it lowers the price per gallon by a $.05.

Save just over 12% on my yearly gas purchases with this strategy.

For the record, I do not overspend on groceries to reach the $50. Everything I purchase at Publix is researched to be the lowest price for that item.

scottybweyy

Ancient Member

posted: Nov. 28, 2012 @ 4:56a

depalma13 said: I buy BP gift cards at Kohls with Discover and Chase Freedom and get the 5% discount at certain times of the year.

If you have a Costco Business AMEX (my household is a business as far as AMEX and I are concerned), you will get 4% back on gas from AMEX. In order for grocery store gas stations to end up cheaper here, I would have to spend a lot at the higher priced grocery store to earn a reward and bridge the 20 cent per gallon difference in the price of gas. For us that doesn't make sense.

depalma13

Senior Member - 1K

posted: Nov. 28, 2012 @ 5:49a

scottybweyy said: depalma13 said: I buy BP gift cards at Kohls with Discover and Chase Freedom and get the 5% discount at certain times of the year.

CostCo TrueEarnings Business AMEX. 4% back on gas (including at CostCo). I also have the SallieMae MasterCard which gives 5% on gas, so I buy gas at CostCo only when it's at least 1% (currently about 4¢) less than the cheapest station where I can use my MasterCard.

Chris.

kvs25

Silly Member

posted: Nov. 28, 2012 @ 7:48a

Here in NJ, cash and credit prices are different (credit is higher than cash). If I buy a gas station GC at a supermarket and try to use it, they will count that as cash, correct?? and NOT credit?

062703

Senior Member

posted: Nov. 28, 2012 @ 7:49a

Solandri said: Cratos said: E85 biofuel. where I live it's 3.15 vs almost 3.80-4 for regular gas (almost $20 difference on tankful)just make sure your car is compatible (few are),E85 ethanol has 27% less energy per gallon than gasoline. So while you're paying $3.15 per gallon, on a per mile traveled basis you're paying the equivalent of $4.31 gas.

Or put another way, if you fill a 15 gallon tank with E85 at $3.15/gallon, you'd pay $47.25. But that tank will only take you as far as 10.95 gallons of gasoline. 10.95 gallons of gasoline would've cost you $43.76 at $4/gallon.

This is correct. DO a search where you live for 100% gas stations and check prices. Regular gas can have up to 10% ethanol. Often its a better deal to pay a little more for pure gas.

brettdoyle

Senior Member - 3K

posted: Nov. 28, 2012 @ 7:53a

The absolute lowest price would be to fill up your tank and drive off, while not paying anything. If you can find a gas station that lets you pump before you pay which used to be the norm.

Jonomatic

Member

posted: Nov. 28, 2012 @ 8:37a

brettdoyle said: The absolute lowest price would be to fill up your tank and drive off, while not paying anything. If you can find a gas station that lets you pump before you pay which used to be the norm.

Most gas stations in Minnesota allow prepay. The majority of them write down your license plate before "switching on" the pump. If you drive away, they'll report you. The next time you get pulled over, BAM, felony.

doveroftke

Thrifty Member

posted: Nov. 28, 2012 @ 8:43a

062703 said: Solandri said: Cratos said: E85 biofuel. where I live it's 3.15 vs almost 3.80-4 for regular gas (almost $20 difference on tankful)just make sure your car is compatible (few are),E85 ethanol has 27% less energy per gallon than gasoline. So while you're paying $3.15 per gallon, on a per mile traveled basis you're paying the equivalent of $4.31 gas.

Or put another way, if you fill a 15 gallon tank with E85 at $3.15/gallon, you'd pay $47.25. But that tank will only take you as far as 10.95 gallons of gasoline. 10.95 gallons of gasoline would've cost you $43.76 at $4/gallon.

This is correct. DO a search where you live for 100% gas stations and check prices. Regular gas can have up to 10% ethanol. Often its a better deal to pay a little more for pure gas.

I find that the stations around here charge much more for pure gas than it is worth.

The energy density of gas is about 45.3 MJ/kg; the energy density of ethanol is about 26.8 MJ/kg, which gives a 90/10 blend an energy density of 43.5 MJ/kg, about a 4% reduction in energy.

So if the difference between pure gas and a 10% ethanol blend is more than 4% (14￠ when pure gas is $3.50), go with the ethanol blend.

RareWS6

Happy Member

posted: Nov. 28, 2012 @ 9:16a

kvs25 said: Here in NJ, cash and credit prices are different (credit is higher than cash). If I buy a gas station GC at a supermarket and try to use it, they will count that as cash, correct?? and NOT credit?

I'm in NJ.

I have a Chase BP Gas card. It used to be good, now not so much... BUT... here local BP stations will sell gas at 'cash' price if you use your BP CC card. Great savings to me, about 8c a gallon each fill up.

vipercon

Senior Member

posted: Nov. 28, 2012 @ 9:16a

Jonomatic said: Most gas stations in Minnesota allow prepay. The majority of them write down your license plate before "switching on" the pump. If you drive away, they'll report you. The next time you get pulled over, BAM, felony.

Any seasoned theif knows to switch your tag with one from the junkyard before you pull up to the pump, then drive away and quickly switch the plate back somewhere. Better yet, have a knightrider type switch rigged up that switches the plate for you.

jamesboy

Senior Member

posted: Nov. 28, 2012 @ 9:43a

Buy gift cards at a grocery store that offers 4X gas points. You save $1 per gallon plus an additional 5% off with a good gas rewards credit card. I'm not sure anything can beat that.

doveroftke said: 062703 said: Solandri said: Cratos said: E85 biofuel. where I live it's 3.15 vs almost 3.80-4 for regular gas (almost $20 difference on tankful)just make sure your car is compatible (few are),E85 ethanol has 27% less energy per gallon than gasoline. So while you're paying $3.15 per gallon, on a per mile traveled basis you're paying the equivalent of $4.31 gas.

Or put another way, if you fill a 15 gallon tank with E85 at $3.15/gallon, you'd pay $47.25. But that tank will only take you as far as 10.95 gallons of gasoline. 10.95 gallons of gasoline would've cost you $43.76 at $4/gallon.

This is correct. DO a search where you live for 100% gas stations and check prices. Regular gas can have up to 10% ethanol. Often its a better deal to pay a little more for pure gas.

I find that the stations around here charge much more for pure gas than it is worth

The energy density of gas is about 45.3 MJ/kg; the energy density of ethanol is about 26.8 MJ/kg, which gives a 90/10 blend an energy density of 43.5 MJ/kg, about a 4% reduction in energy.

So if the difference between pure gas and a 10% ethanol blend is more than 4% (14￠ when pure gas is $3.50), go with the ethanol blend.There is a lot to like about burning food in our cars rather than having to do so in our bodies

depalma13

Senior Member - 1K

posted: Nov. 28, 2012 @ 10:20a

jamesboy said: Buy gift cards at a grocery store that offers 4X gas points. You save $1 per gallon plus an additional 5% off with a good gas rewards credit card. I'm not sure anything can beat that.

What gift cards are you buying?

If you are paying full price for a gift card, you are losing money on the front end (gift card) to save it on the back end (gas).

kintro

Serene Member

posted: Nov. 28, 2012 @ 10:20a

scottybweyy said: I use Penfed card at the pump at Sam's Club. I think they only give $0.05/gallon off though.

kintro said: There is also a strategy involving 7-eleven & plink.com that gets 15% if done correctly. I posted about that site a while back but the thread did not receive any real action.

I reread your thread. I guess I didn't pay it much mind from the title on fast food! What CC do you use? Do you recommend earning through Plink or through MemoLink? HAs your experience been positive with them thus far?

Maybe the thread having title of fast food is positive as it will probably survive a lot longer

Regarding your questions on plink:- Signed up through Plink, no experience with Memolink- Using Barclays card though I recall they supported a huge number of cc issuers- Experience has been quite positive so far.

FWIW, the T&C say that fuel at 7-Eleven doesn't count but this hasn't been my experience. Also GC's are not excluded so I can't see how they'd be able to discern buying $25 of gas versus a $25 GC which is subsequently used for fuel. Anyway, a $25 fill up yields a $2.50 GC from plink plus whatever rewards come from the cc issuer. It's not entirely hassle free since $25 of gas doesn't really fill up anybody's tank these days.

I still think the fuel rewards from grocery stores is the way to go -- even over plink.

jnheinz

Senior Member - 1K

posted: Nov. 28, 2012 @ 10:22a

Solandri said: Cratos said: E85 biofuel. where I live it's 3.15 vs almost 3.80-4 for regular gas (almost $20 difference on tankful)just make sure your car is compatible (few are),E85 ethanol has 27% less energy per gallon than gasoline. So while you're paying $3.15 per gallon, on a per mile traveled basis you're paying the equivalent of $4.31 gas.

Or put another way, if you fill a 15 gallon tank with E85 at $3.15/gallon, you'd pay $47.25. But that tank will only take you as far as 10.95 gallons of gasoline. 10.95 gallons of gasoline would've cost you $43.76 at $4/gallon.

E85 efficiency ranges based on how old your car is (the technology) -- I have done some research on why my wife's 97 Taurus FFV gets absolutely terrible gas mileage on E85 in my opinion. They only made 5100 of these stupid things, and somehow we ended up with one. You can't draw a straight line for E85 -> Regular Unleaded for a MPG conversion. You can talk about the amount of energy in the fuel, but you can't say how it will perform in an unknown user's car. He may have a brand new Ford with FFV, or he may be like me and have a 97 Taurus FFV. Newer cars, it will be better -- Older cars, much worse.

kintro

Serene Member

posted: Nov. 28, 2012 @ 10:33a

depalma13 said: jamesboy said: Buy gift cards at a grocery store that offers 4X gas points. You save $1 per gallon plus an additional 5% off with a good gas rewards credit card. I'm not sure anything can beat that.

What gift cards are you buying?

If you are paying full price for a gift card, you are losing money on the front end (gift card) to save it on the back end (gas).

jnheinz said: You can talk about the amount of energy in the fuel, but you can't say how it will perform in an unknown user's car. He may have a brand new Ford with FFV, or he may be like me and have a 97 Taurus FFV. Newer cars, it will be better -- Older cars, much worse.Newer may or may not be better, I don't think you can make that claim. All the studies I have seen have E85 between 24%-30% less efficient than standard gas. From personal experience my 2005 Nissan Titan got about 25% less mpg with E85. It seems pretty fair to use 27% as a baseline figure.

Using your example of a 2012 Ford with FFV (an auto focus). With gas it gets 28/40. With E85 it gets 20/28. That is 29% and 30% worse mpg with E85.A 2000 Taurus (couldn't find data on a '06) get with gas 17/26, and with E85 it get 12/19. So 29% and 27% worse mpg on E85.

So newer is not always better. But E85 will always be worse, and always roughly around 27% worse, give or take a few percent.

Use Sams Club gas station and PenFed together.Better, Get Sams Club membership card ($40+ bonus $10) from Discover rewards and use at Sams Club gas station. Straight 20% discount to cheap gas price at Sams club

dcwilbur

Ancient Member

posted: Nov. 28, 2012 @ 11:30a

LiquidSilver said: jnheinz said: You can talk about the amount of energy in the fuel, but you can't say how it will perform in an unknown user's car. He may have a brand new Ford with FFV, or he may be like me and have a 97 Taurus FFV. Newer cars, it will be better -- Older cars, much worse.Newer may or may not be better, I don't think you can make that claim. All the studies I have seen have E85 between 24%-30% less efficient than standard gas. From personal experience my 2005 Nissan Titan got about 25% less mpg with E85. It seems pretty fair to use 27% as a baseline figure.

Using your example of a 2012 Ford with FFV (an auto focus). With gas it gets 28/40. With E85 it gets 20/28. That is 29% and 30% worse mpg with E85.A 2000 Taurus (couldn't find data on a '06) get with gas 17/26, and with E85 it get 12/19. So 29% and 27% worse mpg on E85.

So newer is not always better. But E85 will always be worse, and always roughly around 27% worse, give or take a few percent.

062703 said: This is correct. DO a search where you live for 100% gas stations and check prices. Regular gas can have up to 10% ethanol. Often its a better deal to pay a little more for pure gas.

Just try to find pure gas in a state like Michigan that doesn't require the pumps to disclose the ethanol content. You'll find it at a few marinas for high prices, and sometimes at northern locations that cater to snowmobile owners.

So it's not like robbing Peter to pay Paul because there's a CB benefit to buying the GC's and also the CB + fuel reward discount when gas is purchased.

I'm not worried about the Cash Back from the credit card, you can get that with any purchase. I'm talking about buying a gift card for the store or buying a gift card for a restaraunt or Home Depot, etc.

If he's buying the gift card for the store, he's locking himself into higher grocery prices. If he's buying it for another store, than paying full price for the value of the card will eat away at any discount at the pump, since gift cards for many retailers can be bought online for big discounts.

jamesboy

Senior Member

posted: Nov. 28, 2012 @ 11:38a

depalma13 said: jamesboy said: Buy gift cards at a grocery store that offers 4X gas points. You save $1 per gallon plus an additional 5% off with a good gas rewards credit card. I'm not sure anything can beat that.

What gift cards are you buying?

If you are paying full price for a gift card, you are losing money on the front end (gift card) to save it on the back end (gas).Use the 6% AMEX and you will pocket the cash and the gas rewards. For the credit branded gift cards this does not work, at least for the gas rewards. Target, Kohls, fast food, airlines, hotels, rental cars, coffee, etc.

So it's not like robbing Peter to pay Paul because there's a CB benefit to buying the GC's and also the CB + fuel reward discount when gas is purchased.

I'm not worried about the Cash Back from the credit card, you can get that with any purchase. I'm talking about buying a gift card for the store or buying a gift card for a restaraunt or Home Depot, etc.

If he's buying the gift card for the store, he's locking himself into higher grocery prices. If he's buying it for another store, than paying full price for the value of the card will eat away at any discount at the pump, since gift cards for many retailers can be bought online for big discounts.depalma you are correct for gift cards that can be bought for a discount in excess of 13-14%. Hard to find for the gift cards I need.

bobbybore

bobbyinteresting

posted: Nov. 28, 2012 @ 11:47a

brettdoyle said: The absolute lowest price would be to fill up your tank and drive off, while not paying anything. If you can find a gas station that lets you pump before you pay which used to be the norm.

Make sure to smile for the camera first!

Skipping 111 Messages...

tjguitar85

Senior Member - 1K

posted: Feb. 9, 2013 @ 11:30p

Costco is the closest gas station to my house, so that's where I go, usually at an hour when it's not jam packed.

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